I’ve always loved baking, but was more focused on the occasional cakes and desserts. Once I became more aware of what was in processed foods, I had shifted almost entirely to cooking from scratch. Except for bread – it seemed like such a time suck. Boy was I wrong! Not only do I get to bake – which I love – but we get simple ingredient delicious bread straight from the oven. Since a lot of the time spent on bread is letting it rest, it’s also a simple one to do with kids around. Give this one a try and I’m sure you’ll be hooked too!

xoxo

Alison

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast (make sure you don’t use ‘Rapid Rise’)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 100 degrees F should do)
• 1 1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour

Directions

1. Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water (try for around 100 degrees F – if you go to hot you’ll kill the yeast) in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or in a regular mixing bowl.
2. Let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes. After that time the mixture should be a bit frothy and have the distinct ‘yeast smell’.
3. Add salt, garlic and rosemary to the mixture.
4. Add the flour a little bit at a time until all flour is incorporated and forms a soft dough.
5. Coat the outside of the dough with flour, cover with a tea towel and let rise on the counter for about an hour (or until it doubles in size).
6. Do not flatten, or punch down dough. Move to cooking surface (I like to use my Le Creuset dutch oven) and shape into a round loaf.
7. Cover with a tea towel and let rise another 30 minutes or so.
8. Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Place lid on your dutch oven and cook for 30 minutes.
10. Remove lid and cook for another 10 minutes (skip this step if you prefer your bread a bit less crusty)
11. Enjoy!